When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
It looks like you are welding a seam that has been brazed or possibly welding galvanized material. The presence of brass or zinc will cause that white fuming that you have.
x2 on the zink/galv., Those fumes are really bad, Put on a respirator for sure!! Just had same thing happen on a small piece I was repairing. little white fumes when burning in. Welds find but probably as healthy as the virus.
X4, ... with a story, if you had started on the other side you probably would have had bad ugly welds that wouldn't penetrate. How do I know this, I was just using the floor pan out of a Lincoln viii in a project car as seat and console mount and I could not get good welds with the white spots. Turned out the floor pan was galvanized coated and had to grind it off where I was welding. Pictures available upon request.
Yikes.... I thought it could have been one of two things:
1.) Crazy spiders helping me, or
2.) Something potentially harmful. I vaguely remember someone talking about this on a thread years ago, which is why I immediately stopped and posted this question.
This is why this site is the best! Much appreciated.
To be specific the white stuff is zinc oxide, inhaling vaporized zinc oxide can result in metal fume fever, symptoms are flu-like and usually pass within 24 hours. Best to wear a welding particulate respirator when welding galvanized, to be honest it's a good idea to wear a welding particulate respirator whenever you are welding.
I also say galvanized (zinc) material, you can weld it but clean weld areas by sanding or light grinding first, weld in open area, open garage is ok, a fan works wonders and keep you head out of the weld smoke.
I also say galvanized (zinc) material, you can weld it but clean weld areas by sanding or light grinding first, weld in open area, open garage is ok, a fan works wonders and keep you head out of the weld smoke.
Don't use a fan if you are mig welding. Blows the shielding gas away. Welds look like crap afterwards. Like others say, fresh air is important, that stuff is toxic big time.
Tig also uses a shielding gas. But you use the fan to draw the fumes away not blow them away, that is what a welding fume extractor does, it draws the fumes away.